The cryosphere, derived from the
Greek word kryos for "
frost" or "
icy cold", is the term which collectively describes the portions of the
Earth’s surface where
water is in
solid form, including
sea ice, lake ice, river
ice,
snow cover,
glaciers,
ice caps and
ice sheets, and frozen ground (which includes
permafrost). The cryosphere is an integral part of the
global climate system with important linkages and
feedbacks generated through its influence on surface energy and moisture fluxes,
clouds,
precipitation,
hydrology, and atmospheric and oceanic circulation. Through these
feedback processes, the cryosphere plays a significant role in
global climate and in
climate model response to global change.
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The frozen part of the Earth's surface. The cryosphere includes the polar ice caps, continental ice sheets, mountain glaciers, sea ice, snow cover, lake and river ice, and permafrost.
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